Rising

The American Coyote

    Life can be hard everywhere, no matter how rich or poor you are. Each person has their own struggle. Mine, for example, I was born in a poor family in the outskirts of the city of Guatemala. I had a happy life, but I wanted more. I wanted to be successful and to be able to provide for my family.

    Many ideas had crossed my mind, but none of them were good enough to pursue. I needed more than just working as a farmer. Don't get me wrong, it is a very humble and rewarding job. I guess you can call me a little ambitious or greedy, but I wanted to shine.

    My name is Niray Moreno, and I was a simple girl from the town of Quiche. I did not look like most of my people there. They were all descendants of the Mayans, with their dark hairs and caramel skin. Me, on the other hand, was called the little white girl, with my brown hair and brown eyes. Rumors were, my mom had found the love of her life, an American tourist who fell in love with her, but circumstances separated them.

    "Hey Niray, get down from that cloud and help me make some tortillas" grandma mentioned in Quiché language, a native language in town, but I also spoke Spanish, which was the predominant language. I never learned English myself, although I wish I did.

    "Coming Grandma!" I replied in the same language, shaking my head and smiling at her. I loved that old woman. She was so caring and so loving. She raised me since I was born, when my mother had passed away from complications at birth. Living in this little town, or in the country in general, our medicine was not the best.

    That was another reason I needed a way out. I needed a better life for my grandma, to show her how grateful I was to have her in my life.

    As I was cooking with her, Orlando, a little boy from the neighborhood, came running.

    "Niray! Niray!" he called as soon as he started walking into the room.

    "What happened, Orlando?" I replied, a little spooked at how loud he was. He was trying to catch his breath after running for a while from his house to mine.

    "Niray, I heard in town that there was a Coyote that could help you cross the borde,"" he mentioned and my eyes went wide in surprise.

    "What are you trying to say?" I asked, setting the tortillas aside and giving him all my attention.

    "He might be able to cross you to the United States!" he repeated. Those words were music to my ears. I was waiting for the moment to leave this place. I was nervous, and my heart was pounding, but I was excited at the same time. I might be able to find a good job and maybe send the medicines back to my grandma who was sick and we could barely afford any medications.

    "Sure, do you know where he will be?" I asked, and he pulled me by the hands to take me to the city. Grandma stopped us.

    "You are not going anywhere. Those men are very dangerous and I heard the trip is not safe. You might not make it across. And even if you do, I heard people there will treat you badly." she said. For a lady without any education, she sure knew so much. She was afraid for my safety.

    "I will be fine, Grandma. I am just going to see what they can do for me" I replied, kissing her forehead and heading to the city with Orlando.

    After walking for miles, we finally arrived at the city. I was never a fan of coming here since it was crowded, noisy and the fresh air was lacking.

    "They are at the little store in the corner" he pointed, and I nodded as I headed there. I was nervous, and I wasn't sure if this man could be trusted. But despite hearing the stories, I needed to leave.

    I walked in and looked around to whoever looked like wasn't from here. I approached him carefully.

    "Hello" I greeted in Spanish. He turned around and looked at me.

    "Hello, Miss" he replied in English. He was American, I should have known. I couldn't understand him, but the store owner helped me translate.

    "I heard you can cross people to the United States?" I asked, my hands were fidgeting against my little colorful dress.

    "Oh yes, I can. Why, do you know someone who wants to cross?" he asked, and I took a deep breath.

    "I do. I want to go there, and I will need your help, sir"

    He looked at me while raising an eyebrow and nodding his head in a hasty manner. "I am sorry miss, but this trip is very dangerous for a young lady like you, and you don't look like you have the money for it"

    "I do have the money, I have been saving for years and it might not be much, but I am sure it will be enough" I replied, as I took a little coin purse from my pocket and pulled a bunch of bills.

    "That is not American money, it will not be good for me" he replied, ignoring me and turning around to keep eating.

    "Please sir, I am begging you. I need to cross. My grandma is sick and we barely have anything to go by" I said, while tears were threatening to fall from my eyes.

    "Then why don't you use that money and buy her the medicines, instead of coming to me and wasting my time?" he stood up and as he was heading out, I followed him and got on my knees while putting my palms together.

    "Please, sir. I need this. I need a better life for me and my grandma. You are the only one that can help me, please, I am desperate"

    The man seemed to reconsider the situation. "Very well, be ready by tomorrow at five in the morning. You will need to carry light. We can't afford to be delayed by unnecessary things" he ordered and I quickly nodded, feeling happy that I might finally be able to help myself and my grandma.

    I ran to my house and packed some of my belongings in a little bag and took a shower before going to bed. Tomorrow, my journey will begin.